Mounting structure for mounting gauge wheel assembly to implement

ABSTRACT

A mounting structure for mounting a pivot arm to an implement has a cylindrical member, an adjusting sleeve, and a mounting bolt extending through the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to fix the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve together. The cylindrical member extends through a bore of a bearing housing for rotation within the bearing housing. The adjusting sleeve has a threaded external surface. A disc spring is positioned on the adjusting sleeve. An adjusting nut is threaded onto the threaded external surface of the adjusting sleeve. The adjusting nut can be tightened to compress the disc spring to create a lateral bearing force against the bearing housing. The bearing housing can be integral with a pivot arm for mounting a gauge wheel assembly on a planter row unit, or the bearing housing can be a fixed part for mounting a pivot arm for a closing/press wheel on a drill.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/263,528 filed on Dec. 4, 2015, the content of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to seed planting implements, andin particular, to an improved mounting structure for mounting gaugewheel arms and closing wheel arms to a seed planting implement.

Description of the Related Art

In approximately 1974 John Deere introduced its Max Emerge Model 7000planter, which included gauge wheels that carry the weight of the rowunit, and gauge wheel arms that supported the offset loads of the gaugewheels. Because of the way the offset loads are supported by the gaugewheel arms, the durability of the gauge wheel arms and their pivotmounting was poor. The ground load on the gauge wheel is offset from thecenter of the row where the arm pivots upward and engages an adjustablestop.

Because of the offset load the arm is always trying to lean sideways.The load then is supported by two points of contact between the pivotpin and the bore of the hub. One point is on top of the pin at the innerend of the hub, and the other point is on the bottom of the pin at theouter end. These two points of contact are small and highly loaded.Because of the oscillating motion, grease gets squeezed out of these twopoints of contact and does not get carried back into them.

As a result the two points of contact are bound to wear. As they wearthe arm leans allowing the tire to pull away from the opener disk. Thiseventually allows moist soil sticking to the disk to be carried up intothe space between the wheel and opener disk. A scraper removes the soilfrom the disk which then can accumulate and plug this space. The sameplugging can occur with trash.

In 1994, the Applicant introduced a gauge wheel arm mounting assemblythat used a disc spring (Belleville Washer) to support the offset load.This gauge wheel arm mounting assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and7 of Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,107. Shims were used to set thespring pressure.

After one year it was apparent that a simpler method of adjusting thespring pressure was needed. A threaded adjustment was then developed bythe Applicant, which is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of U.S. Pat. No.5,904,107. This threaded adjustment later evolved into an attachingmethod shown in Applicant's Instruction Sheet AI-1250. Item K ininstruction sheet AI-1250 is an adjusting stud assembly. The adjustingstud is machined from bar stock and has a tapped hole. The attachingstud is a threaded stud screwed into the tapped hole. The attaching studis fixed within the adjusting stud using, for example, a thread adhesivecompound. The attaching stud is screwed into the tapped hole in the endof the fixed pivot pin (not shown).

Disc spring pressure is adjusted by a nylon insert locknut J. Properlyinstalled a force of approximately 1500 lbs. is applied to the ends ofthe hub. This is more than required to prevent the arm from leaning butit can still pivot freely. Because the arm cannot lean the pressure onthe ends of the hub is evenly distributed around the circle of contactwhich is a big area. This results in the wear almost being eliminated.The result is that the tire can be adjusted to stay in contact with theopener disk indefinitely. Adjusting washers at each end of the hub areused to establish the proper relationship between the tire and openerdisk.

In 1997, the John Deere Model 1700 planter model was introduced. Thegauge wheel arm pivot incorporated a threaded bushing which allowed thearm to be moved in or out simply by loosening a bolt and turning thethreaded bushing. No adjusting washers are needed. This gauge wheel armpivot assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of U.S. Pat. No.5,427,038.

To use the RKP gauge wheel arm pivot kit with the Model 1700 planter, itwas necessary to replace the threaded bushing with a split bushing F, asillustrated in Applicant's Instruction Sheet AI-1251.

In 2014, the John Deere Model MaxEmerge 5 (ME5) planter row unit wasintroduced, which included a redesigned gauge wheel arm. The redesignedgauge wheel arm still provides a threaded feature for adjusting theposition of the gauge wheels. It also has a bearing surface at each endof the bore of the hub. The gauge wheel arm mounting assembly for theModel ME5 planter is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of U.S. Pat. No.8,387,715.

In 1998, the disc spring design used on planter gauge wheel arm pivotswas adapted to the early John Deere Model 750 no-till drills, as shownon Applicant's Instruction Sheet AI-1240. This drill did not have sleevebearings and it was very impractical to try to repair it. The problem ofwear on the pivot was very similar to that of the planter gauge wheelarm pivot.

The Applicant's disc spring design was successfully used in the Model750 drills, and was later adapted to the other model drills, as shown inApplicant's Instruction Sheet AI-1242.

However, there is still a need for an improved mounting structure formounting a pivot arm, such as a gauge wheel arm or a closing wheel arm,to an implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mountingstructure for mounting a pivot arm, such as a gauge wheel arm or aclosing wheel arm, to an implement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mountingstructure for mounting a pivot arm to a seed planting implement, whichcreates a lateral bearing force against a bearing housing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mountingstructure for mounting a pivot arm to a seed planting implement, whichcan be retrofit to existing implements.

To accomplish these and other objects of the present invention, amounting structure is provided for mounting a pivot arm to an implement,which has a cylindrical member, an adjusting sleeve, and a mounting boltextending through the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to fix thecylindrical member and adjusting sleeve together. The cylindrical memberextends through a bore of a bearing housing for rotation relative to thebearing housing. The adjusting sleeve has a threaded external surface. Adisc spring is positioned on the adjusting sleeve. An adjusting nut isthreaded onto the threaded external surface of the adjusting sleeve. Theadjusting nut can be tightened to compress the disc spring to create alateral bearing force against the bearing housing. The bearing housingcan be integral with a pivot arm for mounting a gauge wheel assembly ona planter row unit, or the bearing housing can be a fixed part formounting a pivot arm for a closing/press wheel on a drill.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a row unit is providedfor an implement, comprising: a frame; a gauge wheel assembly; a pivotarm having a first end coupled to the gauge wheel assembly and a secondend comprising a hub for pivotally mounting the pivot arm to the frame,the hub having a bore therethrough; a cylindrical member having an innerend and an outer end, the cylindrical member extending through the boreof the hub with the inner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to theframe and the cylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub;an adjusting sleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore,and a threaded outer surface, the adjusting sleeve being positionedcoaxial with the cylindrical member with the inner end of the adjustingsleeve adjacent to the outer end of the cylindrical member; a mountingbolt having a head at one end, the bolt extending through the inner borein the adjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end ofthe adjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyondthe inner end of the adjusting sleeve for insertion into a femalethreaded portion of the cylindrical member or the frame, the mountingbolt being threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened tofix the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame whileallowing rotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member;at least one disc spring positioned on the adjusting sleeve; and a nutthreaded onto the threaded outer surface of the adjusting sleeve, thenut compressing the disc spring to restrain the hub on the cylindricalmember such that compression of the disc spring creates a lateralbearing force on the hub which is transferred to the frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a mountingstructure is provided for mounting a gauge wheel assembly to a frame ofa row unit of an implement, the mounting structure comprising: a pivotarm having a first end adapted to be coupled to a gauge wheel assemblyand a second end comprising a hub for pivotally mounting the pivot armto the frame, the hub having a bore therethrough; a cylindrical memberhaving an inner end and an outer end, the cylindrical member extendingthrough the bore of the hub with the inner end of the cylindrical memberadjacent to the frame and the cylindrical member being coaxial with thebore of the hub; an adjusting sleeve having an outer end, an inner end,an inner bore, and a threaded outer surface, the adjusting sleeve beingpositioned coaxial with the cylindrical member with the inner end of theadjusting sleeve adjacent to the outer end of the cylindrical member; amounting bolt having a head at one end, the bolt extending through theinner bore in the adjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to theouter end of the adjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the boltextending beyond the inner end of the cylindrical member for insertioninto a female threaded portion of the cylindrical member or the frame,the mounting bolt being threaded into the female threaded portion andtightened to fix the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to theframe while allowing rotation of the hub and pivot arm about thecylindrical member; at least one disc spring positioned on the adjustingsleeve; and a nut threaded onto the threaded outer surface of theadjusting sleeve, the nut compressing the disc spring to restrain thehub on the cylindrical member such that compression of the disc springcreates a lateral bearing force on the hub which is transferred to theframe.

Numerous other objects of the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in this art from the following description wherein thereis shown and described example embodiments of the present invention. Aswill be realized, the invention is capable of other differentembodiments, and its several details are capable of modification invarious obvious aspects without departing from the invention.Accordingly, the drawings and description should be regarded asillustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more clearly appreciated as thedisclosure of the present invention is made with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a planter row unit having a gauge wheelassembly with a pivot arm attached to the row unit frame with a mountingstructure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pivot arm with a threadedmember at one end for attaching a gauge wheel to the pivot arm, and ahub at the other end for attaching the pivot arm to the row unit frame.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the pivot arm and othercomponents of the mounting structure of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a pivot arm mounting structure according tothe first embodiment of the present invention, which uses a long boltthreaded into a threaded opening in the row unit frame. FIGS. 4 and 5are exploded perspective views showing the two different types of sleevebearings that can be used, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view ofthe pivot arm mounting structure according to the present invention.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a pivot arm mounting structure according tothe first embodiment of the present invention, which uses a pivot pinfixed on the row unit frame. FIGS. 7 and 8 are exploded perspectiveviews showing the two different types of sleeve bearings that can beused, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the pivot armmounting structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a pivot arm and mountingstructure for attaching a closing wheel to a no-till grain drillimplement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the pivot arm and othercomponents of the mounting structure, according to an alternativeembodiment in which a heat treated sleeve bearing having an enlargedsection at one end is slipped into the hub and held in place with aretaining compound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A mounting structure 10 for mounting a gauge wheel pivot arm 11 to aplanter row unit 12 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 ofthe accompanying drawings.

An agricultural planter row unit 12 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The rowunit 12 is attached to a transverse toolbar 13 in a conventional manner.The row unit 12 has a frame 14 coupled to the toolbar 13 by a parallellinkage 15 to allow vertical movement of the row unit 12 relative to thetoolbar 13. A seed meter 16 singulates seed from a seed pool in the seedhopper 17 and drops the seeds through a seed tube 18 into a plantingfurrow. The furrow is formed in the soil by a furrow opener having pairof closely spaced opener disks 19.

Gauge wheels 20 control the depth of the furrow and are mounted to theframe 14 by respective pivot arms 11. One gauge wheel 20 is adjacent tothe outer side of each opener disk 19.

The frame 14 has a threaded hole 33 on each side for mounting the pivotarms 11 to the frame 14. The pivot arms 11 each have a first end 22coupled to the gauge wheel 20, and a second end with a hub 23 forpivotally mounting the pivot arm 11 to the frame 14.

The hub 23 has a bore 24 therethrough into which an oversize sleevebearing, such as a split bushing 25, is pressed. The split bushing 25has an inner bore 26 and a longitudinal split 27. The longitudinal split27 allows the split bushing 25 to be pressed into the bore 24 of the hub23.

In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11, a heat treatedsleeve bearing 25A having an enlarged section 25B at one end can beslipped into the hub 23 and held in place with a retaining compound,such as a two-part epoxy material. The sleeve bearing 25A in thisembodiment is shaped to fit snugly into the hub bore 24 of a late modelJohn Deere planter in which the hub bore 24 is only partially threadedand has an enlarged bore section at one end.

Two variations of the mounting structure 10 according to the firstembodiment of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 9. The firstvariation is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6 and uses a long bolt 41 thatpasses through the mounting structure and is threaded into the threadedhole 33. A cylindrical member in the form of a bushing 29 extendsthrough the bore 26 of the sleeve bearing 25 within the hub bore 24. Theouter surface of the bushing 29 provides the bearing surface thatengages the inner bore 26 of the sleeve bearing 25, 25A to allow the arm11 to rotate relative to the frame 14.

The bushing 29 in the variation illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6 has acylindrical body with an inner end 30, an outer end 31, and a throughbore 32. The bushing 29 extends through the bore 24 of the hub 23 withthe inner end 30 of the bushing 29 adjacent to the frame 14, and thethrough bore 32 of the bushing 29 coaxial with the threaded hole 33 inthe frame 14. The outer surface 34 of the bushing 29 provides a bearingsurface that engages the inner bore 26 of the sleeve bearing 25 to allowrotation of the hub 23 about the bushing 29. The bushing 29 remainsfixed relative to the frame 14 once the bolt 41 is tightened.

The second variation is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 and uses a pivot pin70 fixed to the threaded hole 33 on the row unit frame 14. A shorterbolt 71 passes through a portion of the mounting structure into athreaded portion 72 at the outer end 73 of the pivot pin 70. In thisvariation, the outer surface 74 of the pivot pin 70 is a cylindricalmember that provides a bearing surface that engages the inner bore 26 ofthe sleeve bearing 25, 25A to allow the arm 11 to rotate relative to theframe 14.

The pivot pin 70 in the variation illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 has aninner end 75 with an inner bore (not shown) with female threads thatreceive a threaded stud (not shown). The threaded stud is threaded intothe threaded hole 33 to fix the pivot pin 70 to the frame 14.Alternatively, the pivot pin 70 can have an integral male threadedportion extending from its inner end 75 for mating with the femalethreads of the threaded hole 33 to fix the pivot pin 70 to the frame 14.

An adjusting sleeve 35 is positioned coaxial with the bushing 29 or thepivot pin 70. The adjusting sleeve 35 has an outer end 36, an inner end37, an inner bore 38, and a threaded external surface 39. The inner end37 of the adjusting sleeve 35 is adjacent to the outer end 40 of thehousing 23 and abuts with the outer end 31 of the bushing 29 or theouter end 73 of the pivot pin 70. The inner bore 38 of the adjustingsleeve 35 is a smooth bore.

The mounting bolt 41 in FIGS. 2 to 6 extends through the inner bore 38of the adjusting sleeve 35 and the through bore 32 in the bushing 29.The mounting bolt 41 has a head 42 at one end adjacent to the outer end36 of the adjusting sleeve 35. A first washer W1 (FIG. 6) can bepositioned between the head 42 of the bolt 41 and the outer end 36 ofthe adjusting sleeve 35. A second washer W2 (FIG. 6) can be positionedbetween the inner end 37 of the adjusting sleeve 35 and the outer end 31of the bushing 29. A threaded portion 43 of the mounting bolt 41 extendsbeyond the inner end 30 of the bushing 29 for insertion into thethreaded hole 33 in the frame 14. The mounting bolt 41 is threaded intothe threaded hole 33 and tightened to fix the bushing 29 and adjustingsleeve 35 to the frame 14, while allowing rotation of the hub 23 andpivot arm 11 about the bushing 29. For example, the bolt 41 can betightened to a torque of approximately 200 ft-lbs.

The mounting bolt 71 in FIGS. 7 to 9 extends through the inner bore 38of the adjusting sleeve 35 and has a threaded portion 76 that mates withthe threaded portion 72 at the outer end 73 of the pivot pin 70. Themounting bolt 71 has a head 77 at one end adjacent to the outer end 36of the adjusting sleeve 35. A first washer W1 can be positioned betweenthe head 77 of the bolt 71 and the outer end 36 of the adjusting sleeve35. A second washer W2 can be positioned between the inner end 37 of theadjusting sleeve 35 and the outer end 73 of the pivot pin 70. Themounting bolt 71 is threaded into the threaded portion 72 of the pivotpin 70 and tightened to fix the adjusting sleeve 35 to the pivot pin 70and the frame 14, while allowing rotation of the hub 23 and pivot arm 11about the pivot pin 70. For example, the bolt 71 can be tightened to atorque of approximately 200 ft-lbs.

At least one disc spring 44 is positioned on the adjusting sleeve 35. Aselected number of first adjusting washers 45 are positioned on thebushing 29 or the pivot pin 70 between the inner side 46 of the hub 23and the frame 14. A selected number of second adjusting washers 47 arepositioned on the bushing 29 or the pivot pin 70 between the outer end40 of the hub 23 and the disc spring 44.

The adjusting sleeve 35 has at least one keyway 48, and preferably twokeyways, on its external surface 39. A tab washer 49 is positioned onthe adjusting sleeve 35 between the second adjusting washers 47 and thedisc spring 44. The tab washer 49 has at least one tab 50, andpreferably two tabs, mated with the keyway(s) 48 on the adjusting sleeve35. The tab washer 49 minimizes relative rotation and resulting wearbetween the disc spring 44 and the tab washer 49.

A nut 51 is threaded onto the threaded external surface 39 of theadjusting sleeve 35. The nut 51 preferably comprises a locknut having anylon insert to prevent the nut from loosening on the adjusting sleeve35 during use. The nut 51 is tightened to compress the disc spring 44 torestrain the hub 23 on the bushing 29 or the pivot pin 70. Compressionof the disc spring 44 creates a lateral bearing force on the hub 23which is transferred to the frame 14.

The first end 22 of the pivot arm 11 has a tapped hole 52. A second bolt53 is threaded into the tapped hole 52 with a head 54 of the second bolt53 adjacent to an inner side 55 of the pivot arm 11. The head 54 of thesecond bolt 53 is thinner (e.g., approximately ¼ inch) than a standardbolt head to prevent contact of the head 54 with the adjacent openerdisk blade 19. A free end 56 of the second bolt 53 extends outwardlyfrom an outer side 57 of the pivot arm 11. The second bolt 53 istightened within the tapped hole 52 of the pivot arm 11 to a torque ofapproximately 50 ft-lbs.

Alternatively, the second bolt 53 can be a threaded stud without a headto ensure that the bolt will not protrude from the inner side of thepivot arm 11 and interfere with the adjacent opener disk blade 19. FIG.3 illustrates a second bolt 53 in the form of a threaded stud without ahead protruding on the inner side of the pivot arm 11. A thread seizingcompound, such as Loctite Threadlocker™, can be used on the threadedstud to prevent it from loosening.

A selected number of third adjusting members 58, 59 are positioned onthe second bolt 53 between the gauge wheel assembly 20 and the outerside 57 of the pivot arm 11. The third adjusting members include aplurality of shims 58 and washers 59 to adjust a lateral position of thegauge wheel assembly 20.

The gauge wheel assembly 20 is placed onto the free end 56 of the secondbolt 53, and a wheel nut 60 is threaded onto the free end 56 of thesecond bolt 53 to secure the gauge wheel assembly 20 to the pivot arm11.

The following process can be used to remove the OEM gauge wheel arm froma planter row unit 12 and install the gauge wheel arm pivot assembly 10of the present invention.

The gauge wheel 20 is removed from the pivot arm 11 by removing the OEMaxle bolt (not shown) at the center of the gauge wheel 20, which isthreaded into the tapped hole 52 at the end 22 of the pivot arm 11.

The pivot arm 11 is removed by removing the mounting bolt 41 from thethreaded hole 33 in the frame 14. A threaded OEM bushing (not shown) isremoved from the hub 23 and can be discarded. If necessary, the ends 40,46 of the hub 23 can be filed to make sure they are smooth and flat andfree of excessive paint. Care should be taken to make sure that theadjusting washers 45, 47 will lay flat on the inner end 46 of the hub23. If the pivot arm 11 interferes with the adjusting washers 45, 47laying flat, the interference can be eliminated by grinding.

The split bushing 25 is then pressed into the bore 24 of the hub 23. Asdescribed above, the split bushing 25 can have an alternativeconfiguration 25A as needed to fit snugly within the bore 24 of the hub23.

The second bolt 53 is threaded into the tapped hole 52 at the first end22 of the pivot arm 11 until its head 54 is tight against the innersurface 53 of the pivot arm 11. The second bolt 53 is tightened to atorque of approximately 50 ft-lbs. Alternatively, a threaded stud can bethreaded into the tapped hole 52 and secured in position by a suitablethread seizing compound, such as Loctite Threadlocker™.

The pivot bushing 29 or the pivot pin 70 is inserted into the bore 26 ofthe sleeve bearing 25, 25A. The locknut 51 is installed onto theadjusting sleeve 35 flush with the outer end 36 of the adjusting sleeve35, as shown in FIG. 6. The disc spring 44 and tab washer 49 areinstalled onto the adjusting sleeve 35. The mounting bolt 41 (FIGS. 2 to6) is then installed through the adjusting sleeve 35, the pivot bushing29, and the remaining parts as shown and into the threaded hole 33 inthe frame 14, or the mounting bolt 71 (FIGS. 7 to 9) is installedthrough the adjusting sleeve 35 and the remaining parts as shown andinto the threaded portion 72 of the pivot pin 70.

Adjusting washers 45, 47 are used to adjust the clearance between thepivot arm 11 and the gauge wheel assembly 20 and the opener disk 19. Afew shims 58 can also be used to position the gauge wheel 20 properly onthe pivot arm 11. The adjusting washers 45, 47 should be lubricated witha light coating of oil.

The mounting bolt 41, 71 can then be tightened to a torque ofapproximately 200 ft-lbs. The pivot arm 11 should still be loose forrotation on the bushing 29 or the pivot pin 70 after the mounting bolt41, 71 is tightened.

Several washers 59 are then placed onto the second bolt 53, and thegauge wheel 20 is loosely placed onto the bolt 53. The locknut 51 isthen tightened to increase the disc spring 44 pressure on the hub 23 ofthe arm 11 to the point that when the wheel 20 is raised it will juststay up. It should take a small force to push the wheel 20 down, andcare should be taken not to over-tighten the locknut 51. The wheel 20should be kept high enough that it does not interfere with the bearinghousing of the opener disk 19.

The wheel nut 60 is threaded onto the second bolt 53 to hold the wheel20 on the pivot arm 11. The number of shims 58 and washers 59 can beadjusted to obtain a light pressure between the tire of the gauge wheelassembly 20 and the opener disk 19. The pressure should be just highenough that when the wheel 20 is turned by hand the opener disk 19 willalso turn. When planting with the row unit 12, the ground load willcause the opener disk 19 to flex inward slightly and the tire of thegauge wheel assembly 20 to flex outward slightly. The pressure betweenthe tire 20 and the opener disk 19 will be reduced during actualplanting due to the flexing caused by the ground load.

The mounting structure 10 of the present invention, when properlyinstalled, will result in the opener disks 19 being cleaned by the tiresof the gauge wheel assembly 20. This may allow the OEM scrapers for theopener disks 19 to be eliminated from the row unit 12.

A mounting structure 100 for mounting a closing wheel pivot arm 101 to ano-till agricultural seeding drill according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIG. 10 of the accompanying drawings. The mounting structure 100 is usedto rotatably mount the closing wheel arm 101 to a bearing housing 102 onthe drill.

The bearing housing 102 has a first side 103, a second side 104, and abore 105 extending therethrough. A pair of grooved sleeve bearings 106,107 are fixed within the bore 105 of the bearing housing 102. The sleevebearings 106, 107 each have an inner bore 108 that provides a bearingsurface. A pair of seals 109, 110 are installed on each side of thebearing housing 102 to keep dirt out of the bearing housing 102.

The pivot arm 101 has a first end 111 coupled to a rotatable closingwheel 112 and a second end 113 coupled to the bearing housing 102 by themounting structure 100. A spring 114 is used to bias the pivot arm 101downward to transfer down force from the implement to the closing wheel112.

A bushing 115 extends through the inner bores 108 of the sleeve bearings106, 107 within the bore 105 of the bearing housing 102. The bushing 115has a cylindrical body with an inner end 116, an outer end 117, and athrough bore 118. The bushing 115 extends through the bore 105 of thebearing housing 102 with the outer end 118 of the bushing 115 adjacentto the second side 104 of the bearing housing 102, and the inner end 116of the bushing 115 adjacent to the second end 113 of the pivot arm 101.The outer surface of the bushing 115 provides a bearing surface thatengages the inner bores 108 of the sleeve bearings 106, 107 to allowrotation of the bushing 115 within the bearing housing 102.

An adjusting sleeve 119 is positioned coaxial with the bushing 115. Theadjusting sleeve 119 has an outer end 120, an inner end 121, an innerbore 122, and a threaded external surface 123. The inner end 121 of theadjusting sleeve 119 is adjacent to the outer end 117 of the bushing115.

A mounting bolt 124 extends through a bore 125 in the second end 113 ofthe pivot arm 101 and the through bore 118 in the bushing 115 and theinner bore 122 in the adjusting sleeve 119. The mounting bolt 124 has ahead 126 at one end and a threaded portion 127 at the other end. A nut128 is threaded onto the threaded portion 127 of the mounting bolt 124and tightened to fix the pivot arm 101, bushing 115 and adjusting sleeve119 together while allowing rotation of the bushing 115 within thesleeve bearings 106, 107 in the bearing housing 102. For example, thebolt 124 and nut 128 can be tightened to a torque of approximately 150ft-lbs.

At least one disc spring 129 is positioned on the adjusting sleeve 119.In the illustrated embodiment, a group of three disc springs 129 arepositioned on the adjusting sleeve 119. A first thrust washer 130 ispositioned between the second end 113 of the pivot arm 101 and thebearing housing 102. A pair of second thrust washers 131 is positionedbetween the disc springs 129 and the bearing housing 102.

The adjusting sleeve 119 has at least one keyway 132, and preferably twokeyways, on its external surface 123. A tab washer 133 is positioned onthe adjusting sleeve 119 between the second thrust washers 131 and thedisc springs 129. The tab washer 133 has at least one tab 134, andpreferably two tabs, mated with the keyway(s) 132 on the adjustingsleeve 119. The tab washer 133 minimizes rotative motion and resultingwear between the disc springs 129 and the tab washer 133.

An adjusting nut 135 is threaded onto the threaded external surface 123of the adjusting sleeve 119. The adjusting nut 135 preferably comprisesa locknut having a nylon insert to prevent the nut 135 from loosening onthe adjusting sleeve 119 during operation. The adjusting nut 135 istightened to compress the disc springs 129 to create a lateral bearingforce between the pivot arm 101 and the bearing housing 102.

The mounting bolt 124 has a grease zerk 136 and a lubrication port 137extending through its shaft for delivering lubricating material into thebearing housing 102. The lubricating material can be delivered throughthe mounting bolt 124 to the inner bore 118 of the bushing 115, andthrough a corresponding port 138 in the bushing 115 to the inner bore105 of the bearing housing 102 to lubricate the bearing surfaces betweenthe outer surface of the bushing 115 and the inner bores 108 of thesleeve bearings 106, 107.

The following process can be used to remove the OEM closing wheel armfrom a drill and install the closing wheel arm pivot assembly of thepresent invention.

The closing wheel arm 101 is removed from the bearing housing 102, andthe old OEM sleeve bearings (not shown) are removed from the bearinghousing 102 and may be discarded.

New grooved sleeve bearings 106, 107 are installed in the bearinghousing 102. The outer ends of the bearings 106, 107 should beapproximately ¼″ from the ends 103, 104 of the bearing housing 102. If agrease zerk which was previously installed in the bearing housing is tobe used, it may be necessary to drill a small hole through the sleevebearing in line with the tapped hole in the bearing housing.

The seals 109, 110 are then installed in the ends 103, 104 of thebearing housing 102 with the lips of the seals 109, 110 facing outward.This arrangement of the seals 109, 110 is important to allow grease tobe able to pass through the seals 109, 110. The seals 109, 110 arepressed into the bearing housing 102 until they are flush with the ends103, 104 of the housing 102.

Grease is applied to the lips of the seals 109, 110 and to one end ofthe pivot bushing 115. The pivot bushing 115 is installed into thebearing housing 102 through the inner bores of the seals 109, 110 andsleeve bearings 106, 107 being careful not to damage the seals 109, 110.The thrust washer 130 is installed onto the end 116 of the pivot bushing115.

The locknut 135 is installed flush with the outer end 120 of theadjusting sleeve 119. The disc springs 129, tab washer 133, and twothrust washers 131 are installed onto the adjusting sleeve 119. Thegrease zerk 136 is installed into the mounting bolt 124. A washer 139 isinstalled onto the mounting bolt 124, and the mounting bolt 124 isinstalled through the bore 125 in the pivot arm 101, the pivot bushing115, the washer 140, and the adjusting sleeve 119.

The locknut 128 is then installed onto the threaded end 127 of themounting bolt 124 and tightened to a torque of approximately 150 ft-lbs.The large locknut 135 on the adjusting sleeve 119 is not yet tightened,and the pivot arm 101 should still be loose. The assembly 100 is thenlubricated using the grease zerk 136 until grease appears at both ends103, 104 of the bearing housing 102.

The large locknut 135 is then tightened on the adjusting sleeve 119until there is approximately 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch gap between the twoinner disc springs 129. The lateral looseness should be eliminated. Whenraising the pivot arm 101 by hand, resistance will be felt caused by thespring pressure of the disk springs 129, but the pivot arm 101 shouldnot hang up. The large locknut 135 can then be adjusted as necessary.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection withspecific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by wayof illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appendedclaims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A row unit for an implement, comprising: a frame;a gauge wheel assembly; a pivot arm having a first end coupled to thegauge wheel assembly and a second end comprising a hub for pivotallymounting the pivot arm to the frame, said hub having a boretherethrough; a cylindrical member having an inner end and an outer end,said cylindrical member extending through the bore of said hub with theinner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to the frame and thecylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub; an adjustingsleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore, and a threadedouter surface, said adjusting sleeve being positioned coaxial with saidcylindrical member with the inner end of the adjusting sleeve adjacentto the outer end of the cylindrical member; a mounting bolt having ahead at one end, the bolt extending through the inner bore in theadjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end of theadjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyond theinner end of the adjusting sleeve for insertion into a female threadedportion of said cylindrical member or the frame, said mounting boltbeing threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened to fix thecylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame while allowingrotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member; at leastone disc spring positioned on said adjusting sleeve; and a nut threadedonto said threaded outer surface of said adjusting sleeve, said nutcompressing said disc spring to restrain said hub on said cylindricalmember such that compression of said disc spring creates a lateralbearing force on said hub which is transferred to said frame.
 2. The rowunit according to claim 1, further comprising a sleeve bearing fixedwithin the bore of said hub, said sleeve bearing having an inner bore,and said cylindrical member extending through said inner bore of thesleeve bearing with an outer surface of said cylindrical memberproviding a bearing surface that engages the inner bore of said sleevebearing to allow rotation of the hub about the cylindrical member. 3.The row unit according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve bearing comprisesa split bushing pressed into the bore of the hub.
 4. The row unitaccording to claim 2, wherein said sleeve bearing comprises a heattreated sleeve bearing inserted into the bore of the hub and held inplace with a retaining compound.
 5. The row unit according to claim 1,further comprising a selected number of first adjusting washerspositioned on said cylindrical member between an inner side of the huband the frame.
 6. The row unit according to claim 5, further comprisinga selected number of second adjusting washers positioned on saidcylindrical member between an outer side of the hub and said at leastone disc spring.
 7. A row unit for an implement, comprising: a frame; agauge wheel assembly; a pivot arm having a first end coupled to thegauge wheel assembly and a second end comprising a hub for pivotallymounting the pivot arm to the frame, said hub having a boretherethrough; a cylindrical member having an inner end and an outer end,said cylindrical member extending through the bore of said hub with theinner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to the frame and thecylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub; an adjustingsleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore, and a threadedouter surface, said adjusting sleeve being positioned coaxial with saidcylindrical member with the inner end of the adjusting sleeve adjacentto the outer end of the cylindrical member; a mounting bolt having ahead at one end, the bolt extending through the inner bore in theadjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end of theadjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyond theinner end of the adjusting sleeve for insertion into a female threadedportion of said cylindrical member or the frame, said mounting boltbeing threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened to fix thecylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame while allowingrotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member; at leastone disc spring positioned on said adjusting sleeve; and a nut threadedonto said threaded outer surface of said adjusting sleeve, said nutcompressing said disc spring to restrain said hub on said cylindricalmember such that compression of said disc spring creates a lateralbearing force on said hub which is transferred to said frame; whereinsaid adjusting sleeve comprises at least one keyway on its outersurface, and further comprising a tab washer positioned on saidadjusting sleeve between said second adjusting washers and said at leastone disc spring, said tab washer having at least one tab mated with saidat least one keyway to minimize rotative motion and resulting wearbetween the disc spring and the tab washer.
 8. The row unit according toclaim 1, wherein said nut comprises a locknut having a nylon insert. 9.The row unit according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said pivotarm comprises a tapped hole, a threaded member threaded into said tappedhole, a free end of said threaded member extending outwardly from anouter side of said pivot arm, said gauge wheel assembly placed onto saidfree end of said threaded member, and a wheel nut threaded onto saidfree end of said threaded member to secure said gauge wheel assembly tosaid pivot arm.
 10. The row unit according to claim 9, furthercomprising a selected number of third adjusting members positioned onsaid threaded member between said gauge wheel assembly and said outerside of said pivot arm.
 11. The row unit according to claim 10, whereinsaid adjusting members comprise washers and shims to adjust a lateralposition of said gauge wheel assembly.
 12. A mounting structure formounting a gauge wheel assembly to a frame of a row unit of animplement, the mounting structure comprising: a pivot arm having a firstend adapted to be coupled to a gauge wheel assembly and a second endcomprising a hub for pivotally mounting the pivot arm to the frame, saidhub having a bore therethrough; a cylindrical member having an inner endand an outer end, said cylindrical member extending through the bore ofsaid hub with the inner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to theframe and the cylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub;an adjusting sleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore,and a threaded outer surface, said adjusting sleeve being positionedcoaxial with said cylindrical member with the inner end of the adjustingsleeve adjacent to the outer end of the cylindrical member; a mountingbolt having a head at one end, the bolt extending through the inner borein the adjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end ofthe adjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyondthe inner end of the cylindrical member for insertion into a femalethreaded portion of said cylindrical member or the frame, said mountingbolt being threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened tofix the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame whileallowing rotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member;at least one disc spring positioned on said adjusting sleeve; and a nutthreaded onto said threaded outer surface of said adjusting sleeve, saidnut compressing said disc spring to restrain said hub on saidcylindrical member such that compression of said disc spring creates alateral bearing force on said hub which is transferred to said frame.13. The mounting structure according to claim 12, further comprising asleeve bearing fixed within the bore of said hub, said sleeve bearinghaving an inner bore, and said cylindrical member extending through saidinner bore of the sleeve bearing with an outer surface of saidcylindrical member providing a bearing surface that engages the innerbore of said sleeve bearing to allow rotation of the hub about thecylindrical member.
 14. The mounting structure according to claim 13,wherein said sleeve bearing comprises a split bushing pressed into thebore of the hub.
 15. The mounting structure according to claim 13,wherein said sleeve bearing comprises a heat treated sleeve bearinginserted into the bore of the hub and held in place with a retainingcompound.
 16. The mounting structure according to claim 12, furthercomprising a selected number of first adjusting washers positioned onsaid cylindrical member between an inner side of the hub and the frame.17. The mounting structure according to claim 16, further comprising aselected number of second adjusting washers positioned on saidcylindrical member between an outer side of the hub and said at leastone disc spring.
 18. A mounting structure for mounting a gauge wheelassembly to a frame of a row unit of an implement, the mountingstructure comprising: a pivot arm having a first end adapted to becoupled to a gauge wheel assembly and a second end comprising a hub forpivotally mounting the pivot arm to the frame, said hub having a boretherethrough; a cylindrical member having an inner end and an outer end,said cylindrical member extending through the bore of said hub with theinner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to the frame and thecylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub; an adjustingsleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore, and a threadedouter surface, said adjusting sleeve being positioned coaxial with saidcylindrical member with the inner end of the adjusting sleeve adjacentto the outer end of the cylindrical member; a mounting bolt having ahead at one end, the bolt extending through the inner bore in theadjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end of theadjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyond theinner end of the cylindrical member for insertion into a female threadedportion of said cylindrical member or the frame, said mounting boltbeing threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened to fix thecylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame while allowingrotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member; at leastone disc spring positioned on said adjusting sleeve; and a nut threadedonto said threaded outer surface of said adjusting sleeve, said nutcompressing said disc spring to restrain said hub on said cylindricalmember such that compression of said disc spring creates a lateralbearing force on said hub which is transferred to said frame; whereinsaid adjusting sleeve comprises at least one keyway on its outersurface, and further comprising a tab washer positioned on saidadjusting sleeve between said second adjusting washers and said at leastone disc spring, said tab washer having at least one tab mated with saidat least one keyway to minimize rotative motion and resulting wearbetween the disc spring and the tab washer.
 19. The mounting structureaccording to claim 12, wherein said nut comprises a locknut having anylon insert.
 20. The mounting structure according to claim 12, whereinsaid first end of said pivot arm comprises a tapped hole, a threadedmember threaded into said tapped hole with a free end of said threadedmember extending outwardly from an outer side of said pivot arm, and awheel nut adapted to be threaded onto said free end of said threadedmember to secure a gauge wheel assembly to said pivot arm.
 21. Themounting structure according to claim 20, further comprising a selectednumber of adjusting members positioned on said threaded member foradjusting a spacing between the gauge wheel assembly and the outer sideof the pivot arm.
 22. The mounting structure according to claim 21,wherein said adjusting members comprise washers and shims to adjust alateral position of the gauge wheel assembly.